UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has told the new permanent representative of Cyprus in the United Nations that the international organisation and himself personally are “committed” to Cyprus and its people and has repeated his intention to convene an informal meeting 5+1 on Cyprus soon so that a serious negotiating process can begin.

Guterres was speaking at an official ceremony during which Cyprus’ new permanent representative to the UN Andreas Hadjichrysanthou presented him his credentials.

Cyprus, the UN Secretary General said, is an important part of the UN, adding that both the organisation and himself personally remain committed for Cyprus.

Guterres recalled his own engagement and commitment both in the past when Portugal held the EU Council presidency and now as UN Secretary General, especially during the negotiations at the Conference on Cyprus in Crans – Montana.

We are creating now the conditions to convene soon the informal 5+1 meeting so that we can begin serious talks and a negotiating procedure, he noted.

I would like you to know how committed we are to Cyprus and its people, Guterres said.

On his part, Hadjichrysanthou conveyed to the UN Secretary General Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades’ warm regards and reiterated his full commitment and support for the informal 5+1 meeting to be convened aiming for the urgent resumption of substantial and result oriented negotiations to reach a comprehensive, viable and lasting settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality as is set out by the relevant Security Council resolutions and EU principles and values.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. The latest round of UN backed talks took place in the summer of 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, but failed to yield results.